Durbin to head defense spending subcommittee

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, a Springfield Democrat, is the new chairman of the Senate's Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.File photo by Gilbert R. Boucher II/gboucher@daily

Associated Press

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin says he will chair the Senate's Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

Illinois' senior senator announced his new position on Friday. He calls it a "critical" subcommittee. It oversees funding for the military and intelligence community. That includes more than 2 million active duty and reserve service members. It also is in charge of funding of the war in Afghanistan and other worldwide military operations.

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